Birmingham University weakens restrictions on investing in arms companies

Birmingham University weakens restrictions on investing in arms companies Submitted by Imran Mulla on Thu, 07/02/2026 - 12:28 Birmingham is the first British university to weaken rather than strengthen restrictions on arms investments amid Gaza genocide The University of Birmingham photographed in September 2018 (Wikimedia Commons) Off The University of Birmingham has significantly weakend its restrictions on investing in weapons companies, Middle East Eye has learnt. The British university has replaced a policy committing to "minimise" investments in arms, tobacco and alcohol companies with weaker "investment principles" that require the consideration of "financially material" environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. This makes Birmingham the first British university to weaken rather than strengthen restrictions on arms investments amid Israel's genocide in Gaza.